Lewis Hamilton gives hint of retirement plans

Lewis Hamilton

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Hamilton gives hint of retirement plans

The seven-time champion hopes to enjoy other activities

Sam Hall & Topher Smith

Monday 14 March 2022 08:00

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Lewis Hamilton has revealed he has no plan to continue racing in F1 into his 40s as he hopes to have "some other fun things to get on with".

The seven-time world champion signed a contract extension with Mercedes last year that sees him through to the end of 2023, at which point he will be 38 years old.

In modern times, Kimi Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher have raced into their 40s, while Fernando Alonso continues to compete for Alpine at the age of 40.

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When the prospect of racing past 40 was put to him, Hamilton said: “I haven’t thought about that number, because I’m 37 so I still have a bit to go.

"I honestly haven’t thought about it and don’t plan on being here past that age. Hopefully, I have some other fun things to get on with.”

Hamilton recalls "terrible car" in first year of title defence

Hamilton goes into a season without the title of world champion for the first time since 2017, after he lost the crown to then-Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg.

Hamilton first mounted a championship defence in 2009 but when asked to explain the pressures on newly-crowned champion Max Verstappen, he replied: “In absolute truth, I don’t remember. I had a terrible car in 2009, that’s all I remember!

"It was a difficult year with the car, so I didn’t find different expectations as far as I remember.”